Scientists from the University of Cambridge for the first time in 700 years were able to read the hidden pages of the manuscript containing rare episodes of legends about King Arthur and Merlin. About this report Daily letters.
The manuscript, created from 1275 to 1315, was found in 2019, but only three years later, scientists were able to reveal its content with the latest technology. A document written in old French is part of the Vulgate Du Merlin – the French version of The Legend of Merlin, popular in the nobility of the Middle Ages.
The manuscript is hidden in the binding of the 16th century books, making it even more valuable to historians. Using virtual layout methods, scientists were able to avoid damage to the original and digitized documents without risks to destroy ancient materials. This makes it preserved for future generations of research.
The new discovery presented the decoding of two episodes from The Legend of King Arthur. One of them talked about the battle of Gawain, Arthur's grandson, with the monster. Others describe Merlin's appearance at a party, and also talked about his miraculous power and meaning as an adviser to the king.
Now all these ancient fragments are available for researching in online format through Cambridge digital library. This discovery not only deepens our understanding of the legends of King Arthur, but also proves how modern technologies can help in the study of ancient manuscripts hidden in unexpected places.